Now I'm feeling zombified - part I
Though incomplete and somewhat inconsistant, I think I was able to bring a smile to my face this morning by writing this. Enjoy...
Physiological considerations of Homo mortus animus
Little is known about the physiological underpinnings of the species Homo mortus animus, the zombie. The main complication to such an understanding is similar to that of other preternatural beings, namely our supply of available subjects for study. The existence of such creatures has even been called into question. However, there does exist an abundance of literature available testifying to their existence, so the actuality of there being such creatures should not dissuade the curious researcher from an examination of the available data.
Without subjects available for direct testing we must turn to other sources of information on the subject, such as is available through a number of media from literature to Hollywood full-length features. One might ask how could such a physiological study be accomplished using such data? The answer is simple enough: comparative biology. That is, there are certain physiological similarities shared between members of the same genus. As such, we can infer that all members of the genus Homo share enough physiological similarities that any conclusions that we make about one species (say Homo mortus animus) as compared to another (Homo sapiens) will be undoubtedly reliable. We know enough about the physiology of the human subject that even through an observational study we can, with relative certainty, infer that such and such a behavior, movement, or characteristic is associated with a specific barrage of physiological happenings.
So, then, what are the outward characteristics of the zombie that might help us to a more knowledgeable understanding of the species’ biology? The available data suggests a number of highly important physical characteristics that classify this species as distinct form other members of our genus. The first, and most distinct characteristic of this species is that it is a reanimated corps of our species; that is, in order for a zombie to exist, a human must have died (though the manner of the human death is not typically important - however, in some of the literature it is), and the corps itself is somehow animated (again there are a variety of examples of how this occurs). The second characteristic concerns how the body of the zombie is animated. Typically legs and arms are lamed in some way. There is usually a stagger in one of the legs and the arms seem to be overtaken by rigor mortus. As such, the arms are usually extended in front of the body, guiding it in the forward direction. And finally, in most cases the zombie is unable to mutter anything more complex that a grown, as if to suggest that the power of speech, or the faculty of language is lost all together. Though in some cases the zombie is able to repeat one word over and over again: This one word typically is "brains!" suggesting an innate preoccupation with the organ.
Physiological considerations of Homo mortus animus
Little is known about the physiological underpinnings of the species Homo mortus animus, the zombie. The main complication to such an understanding is similar to that of other preternatural beings, namely our supply of available subjects for study. The existence of such creatures has even been called into question. However, there does exist an abundance of literature available testifying to their existence, so the actuality of there being such creatures should not dissuade the curious researcher from an examination of the available data.
Without subjects available for direct testing we must turn to other sources of information on the subject, such as is available through a number of media from literature to Hollywood full-length features. One might ask how could such a physiological study be accomplished using such data? The answer is simple enough: comparative biology. That is, there are certain physiological similarities shared between members of the same genus. As such, we can infer that all members of the genus Homo share enough physiological similarities that any conclusions that we make about one species (say Homo mortus animus) as compared to another (Homo sapiens) will be undoubtedly reliable. We know enough about the physiology of the human subject that even through an observational study we can, with relative certainty, infer that such and such a behavior, movement, or characteristic is associated with a specific barrage of physiological happenings.
So, then, what are the outward characteristics of the zombie that might help us to a more knowledgeable understanding of the species’ biology? The available data suggests a number of highly important physical characteristics that classify this species as distinct form other members of our genus. The first, and most distinct characteristic of this species is that it is a reanimated corps of our species; that is, in order for a zombie to exist, a human must have died (though the manner of the human death is not typically important - however, in some of the literature it is), and the corps itself is somehow animated (again there are a variety of examples of how this occurs). The second characteristic concerns how the body of the zombie is animated. Typically legs and arms are lamed in some way. There is usually a stagger in one of the legs and the arms seem to be overtaken by rigor mortus. As such, the arms are usually extended in front of the body, guiding it in the forward direction. And finally, in most cases the zombie is unable to mutter anything more complex that a grown, as if to suggest that the power of speech, or the faculty of language is lost all together. Though in some cases the zombie is able to repeat one word over and over again: This one word typically is "brains!" suggesting an innate preoccupation with the organ.